Reviving a passion

Monday

Jan 14, 2013 at 10:00 AM

A passion for photography drew me toward a career in journalism nearly 20 years ago. I loved the idea of telling stories about the world around me through pictures. Over the years, however, that passion has kind of escaped me as I became complacent in the daily grind. As newsrooms change and staffs are cut, due to technology and budgets more pressure has been put on each employee to produce copy on a daily basis. As times have changed I have also had to adapt as a photojournalist and reporter. I now not only tell stories through photos but through words. So when I was given the opportunity to have weekly photo essay pages in Hillsdale and Coldwater I was a bit reluctant. I didn’t know if I had the time or wanted to make the time in my weekly schedule. Reluctantly I said yes though, after encouragement from my wife. As editor of the Hillsdale and Coldwater papers it was her idea, so I guess it was something I was going to do one way or the other. Although she didn’t come right out and say it, I know the reason for the page — it is an attempt to bring more local copy to the papers, but is also an attempt to revive a passion that I have lost over the years. Beginning today, “Photo Finish” will appear in both papers each Saturday. The page will be similar to a photo page I did for a number of years while working at the Herald Republican in Angola. The page will be an opportunity to highlight through photos the events, landscapes and people of Hillsdale and Branch counties. It will also force me out of the office taking time to pick up the camera and explore both counties. So as I thought about the page all week, I continued to draw a blank on any ideas I had. Saturday grew closer and I still had no ideas. The only idea I had fell flat after I didn’t get a return call from the people I attempted to contact.Thursday afternoon I went out in search of an interesting subject or just anything at all I could use for the page. On a cold, windy winter day in Hillsdale County the options for quick, interesting pictures are few and far between. I knew from being out and about over the past weeks that a flock of swans and ducks were keeping a portion of Lake Baw Beese open this winter. I headed to the lake in search of the swans. Animals are always a great option. After finding the swans I began to look around and realized that I still had the desire to search out photos no matter where I was and that I could make this happen. Clicking off several shots of the swans, I began roaming the shoreline of the lake looking for other subjects — what I found was a wealth of photo opportunities.The fractured ice along the shoreline made for great photos along with a small flock of Mallard ducks that were sitting along the edge of the ice. Even though I was only out there 30-45 minutes, it was refreshing to be out of the office. It was a chance to pick up the camera and not have to worry about what I shot. Shooting 75 or so photos, I could pick and choose and use what I wanted. Having to cover two counties, there will be weeks when I will have to probably look for help from the other reporters in Coldwater. Being the first week, this was one of them. This week’s page in The Daily Reporter will feature the exceptional work of Don Reid. His ice fishing photos from last weekend will be featured on the page. If anyone ever has any good suggestions in either county of events, scenes or any other photo opportunities that could be highlighted on the page, don’t hesitate to give me a call or drop me an email at andy.barrand@hillsdale.net or 437-7351.